Bridge, what's the hurry and Why do you think you will receive unbiased opinions on this thread?
What you are proposing to do is equivalent to a moon walk without the requisite pilot experience and 5 years astronaut training. Granted, if you have an engineering background, are knowledgeable about physics and a strong natural swimmer; with the certs and a few open water dives under your belt you could go on a handhold dive on the Andrea Doria, but your wife too?
Do you really want to join up with a bunch of tight assed technical divers at this point? Why not plan a trip with some young folks on one of those "Blackbeard" cruises to the Bahamas. Bring your basic snorkeling gear including a CO2 vest, BC, and your Maximus regulator or whatever; enjoy the warm water on your skin, watch the colorful fish on a beautiful shallow reef, look for lobsters, drink a few beers. Enjoy new friends.
Later, back in New England, there is time to buy a thick suit and make a few charter wreck dives to 100 feet or so. Find some artifacts, get pinched by a big bug, watch your "D" meter rotate and later tell a few tall stories.
Five years from now, when you're more seasoned, revisit the idea of mixed gas diving and all that stuff.
I looked at the compensators on the three links. Pretty freaky and rather expensive. Strictly for the "in" crowd of cave divers, etc. Overkill for 99% of divers. Even the "rec" models are bulky with double bladders.
PS: Bridgenet, I see on another thread that you dived the "Rhone". Good start. You surfaced a bit low on air but stuff happens and since it was only a "safety" stop, no harm, no foul. Currents do increase air consumption, so just learn from the experience and keep that snorkel handy. Your standard "rec" BC will keep you high in the water but you have to have something to inflate it with. Heh. Last word, one of the few USEFUL new pieces of gear to come along are the "split" fins. Try the Apollo. They will cut your air consumption by 20%.